Electrically operated boiler



Oct. 8, 19.35.

T. H. NOLL ELECTRICALLY OPERATED BOILER Filed Sept. 10, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

g I ATTORNEY T. H. NOLL ELECTR ICALLY OPERATED BOILER Oct. 8, 1935.

Filed Sept. 10, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 J wua" 32 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 8, 1935. T. H. NOLL 2,016,291

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED BOILER I Filed Sept. 10, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrically operated boiler, and has forits object to provide means for insuring constant and uniform operationof such boiler.

5 A more specific object is to provide a. simple and practicalarrangement for preventing the blowing of fuses in the heating circuitand for thereby insuring a constant supply of current to the boiler.

10 A further object is to avoid necessity for the exercise of accuracyof the fluid level within the boiler.

A further object is to maintain the entire mechanism within the smallestpossible proporl5 tions consistent with efiicient operation.

A further object is to provide a safety element in the electric circuitemployed which element will at all times be protected againstoverheating.

20 A further object is to: provide means for obtaining more than twovariations of heat from two pairs of electrodes employed.

A further object is to provide a safety element in the electric circuitadapted to assist in heat- 25 ing the boiler fluid.

A further object is to provide pressure controlled means automaticallyoperable to permit lowering of the fluid level about the electrodesemployed.

Another object is to provide a boiler of strong, practical and efficientconstruction for use in the manner herein contemplated.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific thanthose referred to above, will .33 be in part obvious and in part pointedout in the course of the following description of the elements,combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principlesconstituting the invention; and the scope of protection contem- 49plated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the acompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of thisspecification, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form ofembodiment of the invention:-

45 Fig. l is a vertical sectional View through a boiler constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken upon the plane of line 11-11of Fig. 1.

59 Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the wiring employed.

Figs. l, 5 and 6 are similar diagrammatic views illustrating amodification in which a plurality of pairs of electrodes are employed,and

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified arrangement and construction of theboiler parts, Fig. 7 being a horizontal sectional view on the plane ofline VII-VII of Fig. 8 and Fig. 8 being a side elevational view of themodified device partly broken away and shown in vertical section on 5line VIII-VIIE of Fig. 7.

While the present invention is primarily designed as an improvement uponthe structure shown and described in my pending application Serial No.192,766, issued March 13, 1934, as Pat- 10 ent No. 1,956,511, it willnevertheless be understood that it is equally applicable to electricboilers of various types.

Referring to the drawings for describing in detail the structure thereinshown the reference character L indicates a main casing. A partition Idivides .the interior of this casing into two separate compartments as Gand H, the only communication between said compartments being by anopening 2 through the lower portion of said partition.

Within the compartment G is arranged a pair of electrodes as 3 and 6.These preferably stand vertically within the compartment and may berigidly supported in position in any appropriate manner as for instanceby being fixed by their upper ends to a plate 5 of insulating materialwhich is carried horizontally in the upper portion of the compartment.The electrodes are of uniform size and length and their lower endsproject to near the bottom wall 6 of the casing.

At any appropriate point in. the upper portion of compartment G isarranged an outlet opening as l through which steam generated within thecompartment may pass for use as for instance in a radiator or the likeas (3.

A filler plug 9 may be provided through the upper wall of the casing,and preferably through the upper wall of the compartment H, by means ofwhich water may be poured into the casing whenever desired.

Carried also by the insulating plate 5, but spaced from the electrodes 3and 4 is a resistance element It. This element as shown consists of acoil of resistance wire arranged in a horizontal position within thecompartment G and in a plane below the lower ends or" the electrodes 3and 4, being supported by its opposite ends by connection with the lowerends of two spaced conductors as l l and t2 which extend downwardly fromthe plate 5. These conductors are rigid with the plate 5 and are sealedwithin insulating tubes l3, their lower end portions only being incontact with the liquid within the casing.

The electrodes 3 and 4, and the conductors ll and I2 all project throughthe insulating plate 5 and at their upper ends above said plate haveappropriate terminals as |4-|4 for the making of electrical connections.

The wiring employed will be seen in the diagrammatic illustration Fig. 3wherein there is shown a wire as I5 leading from a source I6 to theconductor II. A wire I! connects the conductor I2 with the electrode 4,and a wire I8 connects the electrode 3 with the opposite side of thesource.

A switch as I9 is arranged in this circuit, for instance between partsof wire l5, and it will be apparent that upon closing of this switch thecurrent which will flow between the electrodes 3 and 4 must alsotraverse the resistance element I0, it being understood of course thatthe passage of current between the electrodes will be by way of theliquid 2|) within which the electrodes are submerged, as fully set forthin the co-pending application referred to.

It will also be understood that the electrodes and the resistanceelement are so spaced within the body of liquid that at least the bulkof current will travel in the manner referred to.

The purpose and value of the resistance element in the circuit asdescribed will now be understood: Namely that it will at all timesprevent any such excessive flow of current through the circuit as toinjure any part of the mechanism or blow out any fuse or fuses as 33which may be included in the circuit.

Any heat generated in the resistance element by passage of currenttherethrough will be dissipated into the liquid and thereby increase theheat of the liquid. Incidentally excessive heating of the resistanceelement will be prevented.

When the current through the circuit is turned on to begin operation ofthe boiler the flow of current between the electrodes will be determinedby the extent to which the electrodes are submerged, that is by theposition of the level of the liquid 20 with respect to the length of theelectrodes. If the level is low the current will flow less freely thanif the level is high, and there will be no likelihood of destruction ofthe fuse 33. If on the other hand the level is high, as is apt to occurwhenever a fresh supply of liquid has just been introduced into thecasing, the flow of current between the electrodes may be so plentifulthat without the presence of the resistance element in the circuit thefuse would be instantly destroyed. The presence of the resistanceelement however will save the fuse by preventing the passage of morethan a given amount of current according to the character of theresistance element.

The submerged condition of the resistance element, and its consequentprotection against overheating offers the further important advantage ofenabling the use of a resistance element of ample capacity and yet ofconsiderably smaller size than would be required if the resistanceelement be not submerged. And this is in keeping with the importantobject of maintaining the entire mechanism within the smallest possibleproportions consistent with eflicient operation.

As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 it is a part of this invention to provideif desired more than a single pair of the electrodes 3 and 4, allnevertheless arranged to be connected in circuits protected by thesingle protecting element II).

In addition to the pair of electrodes 34 the illustrations Figs. 4 to 6include a second pair of electrodes as 2|--22. A switch mechanism 23 isalso shown, it being understood that this switch mechanism may be usedin addition to or in lieu of the switch I9 as may be desired.

The switch 23 may be of any appropriate mechanical constructionincluding parts which are manually movable to control the passage of current in the manner as diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6. Theillustration Fig. 4 shows the switch mechanism 23 so set as to utilizeonly the electrodes 3 and 4. The illustration Fig. 5 shows the switchmechanism 23 so set as to utilize the electrodes 3, 4 and 2|. And theillustration Fig. 6 shows the switch mechanism so set as to utilize allof the electrodes 3, 4, 2| and 22.

The circuit for the electrodes 3 and 4 in the illustration Fig. 4 may betraced by reference to the arrows in said figure as follows: from thesource along wire I5 through the resistance element I8, along wire 24through contacts 25 and 2B of the switch mechanism and thence by wire 21to the electrode 4, electrode 3, wire 23 to con tacts 29 of the switchmechanism and to the opposite side of the source by way of wire 20.

The electrodes 2| and 22 are dead when the switch mechanism is in thisposition.

The circuits for the electrodes 3, 4 and 2| in the illustration Fig. 5may be traced by reference to the arrows in Fig. 5 whereby it will beseen that the circuit for the electrodes 3 and 4 is exactly the same asin Fig. 4 and that a shunt circuit is closed including the electrode 2!as follows: from the electrode 4, by way of the liquid 20 to electrode2| and thence by wire 3| to contact 32 of the switch mechanism and on tothe source by way of wire 30.

The electrode 22 will remain dead while the current fed to electrode 4will pass now to both the electrodes 3 and 2| thus imparting a somewhatgreater heating effect upon the submerging liquid 20 than where only asingle pair of elec- "trodes are alive.

The circuits for the electrodes 3, 4, 2| and 22 in the illustration Fig.6 may be traced by reference to the arrows in Fig. 6 wherein it will beseen that the circuit for the electrodes 3 and 4 is again the same as inFig. 4 but that in this instance the shunt circuit referred to withreference to Fig. 5 includes both of the electrodes 2| and 22 asfollows: from the contact 26 of the switch mechanism to contact 32,thence by wire 3| to electrode 2| liquid to electrode 22 and wire 34 tocontact 35 of the switch mechanism and on to the source through wire 30.

A. metallic connection is thus provided between the electrodes 4 and 2|so that the relatively more difficult path through submerging liquidbetween these electrodes will be bridged and the two pairs of electrodeswill operate substantially independently of each other.

Since the main casing L is usually formed of a metal and has metallicconnection with the house radiator or the like as 8 and is for thisreason grounded in common with said radiator, it is to be understod thatthe electrodes will be so spaced not only with respect to each other butalso with respect to the casing that there will a all times be presentan easier path through ihe resistance element It, and through the fluidbetween the electrodes, to complete the circuits hereinahove traced thanto or by way of the casing.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a pressure relief valve 36 incommunication with the compartment H. In instances where the presentsteam generating mechanism is connected with an unusually small radiator8 or other device requiring only a and thence through the submergingsmall amount of steam it sometimes happens that the process oftransforming fluid within the chamber G into steam sufficient forproducing ampie pressure within the radiator does not consume enough ofthe fluid to lower the fluid level in the compartment G to a desiredpoint where the heating capacity of the electrodes will balance thesteam requirements of the radiator, in which event the excessive heatingcapacity of the electrodes and the consequent excessive production ofsteam within the compartment G would create an unsafe pressure withinsaid compartment.

Merely to relieve this pressure from the compartment G would only permitthe fluid level in said compartment to further rise about the electrodesand result in the production of still more steam, being purely wasteful.

By providing the device 36 in the upper part of the compartment Hhowever it will be seen that, supposing said device to be set to releaseany pressure in excess of a given amount, say threepounds pressure, theproduction of steam in normal operation will not affect said device. Ifhowever a pressure in excess of three-pounds is reached in thecompartment H, and likewise in the compartment G and in the radiator,without the required consumption of fluid, and more steam continues tobe generated in the compartment G than is utilized, so that the pressurein the compartment G and likewise in compartment H rises abovethree-pounds, then the pressure in the compartment H will be relievedthrough the device 36 thereby allowing the fluid level to rise in thecompartment H and to fall in the compartment G until a balancedcondition is reached wherein the level of fluid in the compartment G isat a point where the ability of the electrodes to generate steam is justsufficient to maintain the three-pound pressure.

There is no loss of fluid either directly or in the form of steam. Onlythe air pressure in the compartment H above the fluid level in saidcompartment is relieved, and it will be understood that this will bereplenished through the device whenever the pressure in the compartmentH drops.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the mechanism issurrounded with ample safeguards both against electrical and fluid pressure abnormalities, that it is of simple and practical construction,that it is of extremely elastic capacity, and that withal it is embodiedin an apparatus which is of extremely small measurements for an articleof such capabilities.

By disposing the resistance element I ll at a level below the lower endsof the electrodes, as hereinabove pointed out, any abnormal fall of thefluid level within the casing such as would uncover the resistanceelement would first of necessity leave the lower ends of the electrodesso that the circuit including the resistance element would be brokenbetween the electrodes before exposure of the resistance element.Accordingly, no harm could come to the resistance element due toover-heating while non-submerged.

In keeping with the object of maintaining the device within the smallestpossible measurements the two compartments G and H are provided with acommon cover member 31 held in position upon the casing by suitableclamp means such as the bolts or the like as 38-38, said cover having apartition portion 39 for engaging the upper edge of the partition I tocomplete the separation of the compartments from each other.

The conductors l5 and I8, with reference to Fig. 3, or the conductorsi5, 24, 21, 28, 3| and 34, with reference to Figs. 4 to 6, are sealedthrough that portion of the cover 3'! which-overlies the compartment G,as illustrated by the sealing block 40 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the innerends of said conductors extending downwardly from the block 42! and intoconnection with the appropriate terminals on the upper surface of theelectrode carrying plate 5, it being here noted that this plate, whichalso carries the protecting or resistance element I0, is readilyremovably supported in the upper portion of the compartment G by fittingor resting upon a permanent ledge as 6! provided upon the walls of saidcompartment so that upon removal of the cover 3! not only is accessgiven into both of the compartments G and H but also the carrying plate5 with its electrodes and protecting element in may be lifted away fromthe compartment G for facilitating cleaning or the making of repairs orrenewals.

In the modification Figs. 7 and 8 the invention is the same as alreadyset forth except that in this instance the electrode carrying insulatingplate 42, corresponding with plate 5, is utilized to seal steam tightthe upper end of the steam compartment. A gasket 43 is disposed betweenthe plate and the top edge of the casing and screws d l-d l extendthrough the plate and gasket and into the material of the casing toclamp the plate steam tight.

The cover member 45, corresponding with the cover member El, is held inposition by suitable screws some of which, as indicated by the referencenumeral it, fasten into only the plate 42, and others of which, asindicated by the reference numeral ll, fasten into the material of thecasing, it being noted that the elements are proportioned so thatmarginal parts of the gasket 3 project beyond the margin of the plate 42so as to receive the bottom edge of the cover.

In this modification also the pressure relief valve 36 is omitted and inits place the cover 45 is shown as having a small vent opening as 48theretln'ough, such an opening having been found to fill allrequirements in instances where no pressure, other than atmosphericpressure, is required in the compartment H.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, itis intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shownin the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative onlyand not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newand desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quan tity of fluid, a plurality of electrodes spaced fromeach other within the casing intended to be at least partly submerged inthe fluid, and means providing an electric circuit for said electrodesincluding a resistance element arranged to be submerged by said fluid,both the electrodes and the resistance element being of a character toheat the fluid by the passing current, but the resistance element beingof a relatively less heating capacity than the electrodes, permanentlyconnected in series with said electrodes and of a resistance to preventexcess current flow therethrough.

2. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes supported by theirupper portions and having their lower portions depending so as to beadapted to extend below the level of said fluid, a safety device alsoarranged within the casing, a single carrier for said electrodes andsaid safety device to which the upper portions of the electrodes areattached spaced apart and insulated from each other and to which thesafety device is also attached, means whereby said carrier with theattached electrodes and safety device is removably mounted within thecasing, and a detachable cover for the casing, together with meansproviding an electric circuit for said electrodes and. for said safetydevice including conductors extending ex teriorly of the casing.

3. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes supported by theirupper portions and having their lower portions depending so as to beadapted to extend below the level of said fluid, a safety device alsoarranged within the casing having opposite terminals, a single carrierfor said electrodes and said safety device to which the upper portionsof the electrodes are attached spaced apart and insulated from eachother and to which the opposite terminals of the safety device are alsoattached spaced apart and insulated from each other, means whereby saidcarrier with the attached electrodes and terminals is removably mountedwithin the casing, and a detachable cover for the casing, together withmeans providing an electric circuit for said electrodes and for saidsafety device including conductors extending exteriorly of the casing.

4. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes supported by theirupper portions and having their lower portions depending so as to beadapted to extend below the level of said fluid, a safety devicecomprising a resistance element disposed to stand in a position beneaththe level of the fluid within the casing, a pair of conductors extendingone from each end of said resistance element, a single carrier for saidelectrodes and said safety device to which the upper portions of theelectrodes are attached spaced apart and insulated from each other andto which the mentioned conductors are also attached spaced apart andinsulated from each other, means whereby said carrier with the attachedelectrodes and conductors is removably mounted within the casing, and adetachable cover for the casing, together with means providing anelectric circuit for said electrodes and for said safety deviceincluding conductors extending through said cover and extending intoappropriate contact with said electrodes and said first conductors.

5. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quantity of fluid, a plurality of electrodes spaced fromeach other within the casing intended to be at least partly submerged inthe fluid, and means providing an electric circuit for said electrodesincluding a resistance element also within the casing arranged to besubmerged by said fluid and in series in the circuit of said electrodes,said resistance element consisting of a coil of resistance wire, andrelatively stiif conductors leading from opposite ends of saidresistance wire arranged to extend to a point of attachment above thelevel of the liquid constituting the sole means to support theresistance wire in position below said level.

6. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quantity of fluid, a plurality of electrodes spaced fromeach other within the casing intended to be at least partly submerged inthe fluid, and means providing an electric circuit for said electrodesincluding a resistance element also within the casing arranged to besubmerged by said fluid and in series in the circuit of said electrodes,together with supporting means for the resistance element comprising apair of conductors supported by their upper ends spaced apart andinsulated from each other above the fluid level and having saidresistance element connected between their lower ends below said level.

7. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casin adaptedto contain a quan tity of fluid, a plurality of electrodes spaced fromeach other within the casing intended to be at least partly submerged inthe fluid, means providing an electric circuit for said electrodesincluding a resistance element within the casing arranged to besubmerged by said fluid and in series in the circuit of said electrodes,means for the resistance element cc prising a pair of verticallydisposed elon- 'ed conductors supported by their upper ends spaced apartand insulated from each other and having said resistance elementconnected between their lower ends, and insulating means surrounding theportions of said conductors which are intended to stand below the levelof said fluid excepting the lower end portions of said conductors.

An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted tocontain a quantity of fluid, a plurality of pairs of electrodes withinsaid casing all adapted to extend into submerged relati within saidfluid, and means to energize said pairs of electrodes selectively atwill, said last mentioned means being also selectively operable tosupply current from an electrode of one pair to an electrode of anotherpair.

9. An electrically operated steam generator comprisin a steam pressurecompartment and an air pressure compartment, each of said compartmentsbeing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid and there beingcommunication for said fluid between said compartments so that the fluidwithin both of said compartments will stand normally at a common levelso that a steam pressure within the steam compartment will depress thefluid level in said compartment and raise the fluid level and therebycreate an equal air pressure in the air compartment, electricallyoperable means in the steam. compartment for heating the fluid in saidcompartment for generating steam therein, there being a steam outletfrom said steam compartment, and an automatically operable relief valvein said air compartment.

10. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes within said casing,means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes, circuitprotecting means arranged within the casing, the electrodes consistingof elongated members spaced apart in substantially vertical positionadapted to have their lower portions submerged in the liquid, thecircuit protecting means being positioned to stand submerged in theliquid, means providing separate compartments Within the casing onesealed to withstand steam pressure generated by said electrodes and theother sealed to withstand air pressure, there being communicationbetween said compartments arranged below the level of the liquid, acommon closure for both of said compartments, means whereby said closureis removable to afford access to said compartments, and a common supportfor said electrodes and circuit protecting means readily removable withthe electrodes and circuit protecting means attached thereto uponremoval of said closure.

11. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes supported by theirupper portions and having their lower portions depending so as to beadapted to extend below the level of said fluid, a removable carrier forsaid electrodes, attaching means by which the electrodes are attached tosaid carrier spaced apart and insulated from each other so as to beremovable with the carrier, said attaching means providing terminals forthe electrodes, means by which electric current may be supplied to saidelectrodes from without the casing, a separately formed cover for thecasing arranged to guard and protect said carrier and said terminals,and removable means interengaging between the cover and the casing toremovably retain the cover connected with the casing.

12. An eectrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quantity of a pair of electrodes supported by their upperportions and having their lower portions depending so as to be adaptedto extend below the level of said fluid, means defining two separatecompartments within the casing one for containing the electrodes andsealed to withstand steam pressure generated by. the electrodes and theother sealed to withstand equivalent air pressure, aremovable carrierfor the electrodes, attaching means by which the electrodes are attachedto carrier spaced apart and insulated from each other so as to beremovable with the carrier, said attaching means providing terminals forthe electrodes, means by which electric current may be supplied to saidelectrodes from without the casing, a separately formed cover for thecasing arranged to guard and protect said carrier and said terminals andconstituting the seal for at least one of the compartments, andremovable means interengaging between the cover and the casing toremovably retain the cover connected with the casing.

13. An electrically operated steam generator comprising means forming asteam compartment and an air compartment, each of said compartmentsbeing adapted to contain a quantity of liquid and there beingcommunication for said liquid between said compartments so that theliquid within both compartments will stand normally at a common leveland so that steam pressure within the steam compartment may depress 5the liquid level in said compartment and thereby raise the liquid levelin the air compartment, electrically operable means in the steamcompartment for heating the liquid in the steam compartment forgenerating steam in said compartment, there being a steam outlet fromthe steam compartment adapted for communication with a device to beheated by steam from said steam compartment, and there being an airoutlet from said air compartment.

14. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes within said casing,means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes, circuitprotecting means arranged within the casing, the electrodes consistingof elongated members spaced apart in substantially vertical positionadapted to have their lower portions submerged in the liquid, thecircuit protecting means being positioned to stand submerged in theliquid, means providing two separate compartments within the casing eachadapted to contain a quantity of the liquid and there beingcommunication between said compartments below the level of: the liquid,and a removable sealing means for one or" said compartments serving as acommon support for said electrodes and for said protecting means.

15. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adaptedto contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes within said casing,means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes, circuitprotecting means arranged within the casing, the electrodes consistingof elongated members spaced apart in substantially ver- 49 ticalposition adapted to have their lower portions submerged in the liquid,the circuit protecting means being positioned to stand submerged in theliquid, means providing two separate compartments within the casing eachadapted to contain a quantity of the liquid and there beingcommunication between said compartments below the level of the liquid,and a removable sealing means for one of said compartments serving as acommon support for said elec- 50 trodes and for said circuit protectingmeans, together with a closure member for the air compartment connectedwith the casing and having a part extending as a protecting cover forsaid sealing means.

THEOBALD H. NOLL.

